The EFF has taken the glory for the full implementation of the Bela Act, while also cautioning that the DA might still subvert it.
The party released a statement on Sunday evening.
In it it said “the EFF is pleased that whether wittingly or unwittingly, our availability to govern should the DA make threats to exit the Grand-Coalition, means that progressive legislation will be passed whether we are in government or not”.
Closing the EFF elective conference last weekend, leader Julius Malema said his party was waiting in the wings to co-govern with the ANC. This was conditional on the DA quitting the government of national unity (GNU).
DA will use education minister to distort Act
The EFF however, still warned that the DA could distort the progressive legislation by undemocratic means. It also enjoined South Africans to ask why full implementation was delayed in the first place.
On September 16, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Basic Education Laws Amendment (Beal) bill into law. He, however suspended implementation of clauses 4 and 5 for three months.
That three months expired on December 15, and Ramaphosa signed a proclamation five days later sanctioning full implementation.
“We further caution the people of South Africa of the clear disruptive role the Ministry of Basic Education may play in the implementation of the Act, at the behest of the DA and [party federal chair] Helen Zille,” the EFF said.
The minister, a DA member, is responsible for writing the rules for the implementation. In legislative parlance, these are referred to as “Norms, Standards and Regulations”.
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The EFF said the DA could use this process to frustrate implementation for “almost two years”. It claimed this would enable the DA to “claim… it has defeated the implementation of the Bela Act”.
“EFF will fight to ensure that the normal process of setting up Norms, Standards and Regulations is followed at once. This to avoid petty electioneering around the education of children.
“Should there be any prolonged and politically motivated delay, the minister must face severe consequences, including removal.”
It said it will continue to support all progressive legislation in parliament while opposing all neo-liberal policies.
The EFF pledged that next year it would ensure the nationalisation of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB). It was quick to add that it shared this wish with the ANC, as a policy position.
GNU clearing house cannot replace the National Assembly
It also said it remained concerned about the existence of the so-called GNU “clearing house”. The clearing house, chaired by Deputy President Paul Mashatile, is a dispute resolution committee for the parties in the GNU.
The EFF claimed the clearing house was instead used to supplant democratic laws passed by the National Assembly with secret corridor deals.
“That the Bela Act went through this illegitimate structure before its full implementation is already a gross violation of our democracy and our Constitution,” said the EFF.
